Automatic metal-type-distributing machine



`hun. 29 1924.

` T. ATKINSON ET AL AUTOMATIC METAL TYPE DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 51, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l llllAllulllnalllllIllll ll I Ilnlllllrl |.lllllllll'lllll Jan. 29, 1924.

AUTOMATIC METAL TYPE DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 29; 1924. l 1,482,283

n T. ATKINSN ET AL AUTOMATIC METAL, TYPE DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1922 5 SheeiS-Shee'I 3 4 Try Jan. 29 1924. 1,482,283

T. ATKINSON ET AI.

AUTOMATIC METAL TYPE DTSTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1922 FIG-9. F'GJO..

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATY Jan. 29, 1924. 1,482,283

T. ATKINSON ET'AL AUTOMATIC METAL TYPE DISTR'IBUTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1922 f 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTy Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

THOMAS ATKINSON VAND HORACE CARDWELL DAY, OF.HIEIYVVOOD,v ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC METAL-TYPE-DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

Application ledAugust 31, 1922. Serial No. 585,387.

Be it kno-wn that we, THOMAS ATKINSON andv HORACE CARDWELL- DAY, subjects :of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residingfat Glenthorne, Rochdale Road. East,'

Heywood, in the-county of Lancaster,Eng

land, have invented new and useful Ime` provements in anfe Automatic MetalllypeL Distributing Machine, of which the-follow` ingisa specification;

The invention' relates to; an automatic metal type distributing machine, aseoluence` of'operations beingiperformedy automatically in such machine.l The v column orl page of type to be distributed is laid on agall'eyand pushed line after line into a channel, and as. each line is pushecl\.-fi'omthe galley, the gal-` ley, or the type,.is actuated to bring the next line of type'. to coincide with the channel. Each type character 'in the channel is carried individually by a separator device'up to a selection channel alongewhich'it yis traversed.

This selection channel 'is formed by -afixed wall and another wall provided by afseries of movable selector heads.` The :type charac `ters are heldsuspended in the selection channel by means of a projection on a fixed wall.

of the channel and on theselector'headsyfitw ting into corresponding recesses provided atthe'shoulder ofthe type.y `Each type char` acter has also a special recess or combina.

tion of recesses-formed in the .front'side which `faces theV selector heads which are provided with a projection or projections, each selector head having onlyprojections to correspond with the recesses of its 'own individual typev character.L As thee type character is traversed along the selectiony channel lwhen it comesopposite to its own: individual selector head the `projections On the .selector head coincide with the recesses inthe type'characterv and an electric circuit is designedtobe -completed by means of which mechanism is actuated to with'- drawthe selector head, andthetype character .being thus released falls-out of the selec# broken ini length,` aportiori only ofthe se- Y lector heads beingshowm n distribution.

F igs2 and 3 show two views of thestrikers-which arecarried by an endless chain, andare used `to traverse the type charactersI along ftheuselection channel.

F-ige isa plan View of Fig. 1.

Figs. landL 6 aretwo views of a` portion of an'endless chain and a pusher device car ried at intervalsthereon'and used to propel i a `line of ytype from ofi' the galley into the 65 type channel from which single type char acters are removed to the selection channel.

Fig. 7 is an 'end view of part of themachine looking in the direction ofthe arrow Figyl, on a largerscalethan Fig. 1, a por# tion thereof beingshown in section `on the line A-B F ig. 1.

Figs..- 8 to 14 are detail parts drawn on a larger scale.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are views on a larger 75 scale of one of the selector heads, and,

Fig. 18 shows the electrically actuated mechanism used for releasing a selected type I character from Atheseleetion channel.

Fig. 19 shows howthe slide of the sepaso r rator device isactuated.

In aftype distributing machine made `in accordance with our invention the metal typefcharacters a used therewith are made with a recess a near the shoulder onthe- S5 front and back sides; by= means ofwhich they can be supported infthe machine, and also a recess r2 or combination ofwsuch recesses in various positions ldown the front side for selection by the selector heads for A specimenof such `type is shown in the enlarged view Fig. 10a.

The column or `page of such type to be distributedinto'their proper places is laidon a galley with a sliding `base .b (Figs. 1 andl) -95 and held against a fixed side b by means of an adjustable side b2 `operated b vscrew-s b3 rotatable by means of hand wheels Zf, The galley base is supported in slidesfand at intervals uponv rOllersZr) and is actuated 10o by a screwed spindle c Ito bring the iirstfline of type'againstthe fixed side c opposite' to thel type channel c2. An endlesschain c3 suitably driven from the power lshaft cL of the machine,l and indicated by dotted lines in Fig.' 4l `carries a number ofpush'ersl d" formed with a T'shaped'head. A' portion of the chain Ywith one of the pushers' Z is shown in Figs and 6. The reduced neck ofthe T head occupies a slot d in the fixed side c" 110. of the-machine (shown lin Fig. 1) andthe head coming behind theirstlline ofI type,

pushes the type into the channel c2 and then emerges out of the slot d at Z2 which is shaped to permit this as shown in Fig. l. The galley base Z) is then moved forward to bring the, next line of type to coincide with the type channel c. This might be e'ected by rotating the screwed spindle by means of a band or chain c through the medium of an electrically controlled clutch on the driving shaft c by using the pusher (Z as a contact piece to momentarily complete a circuit as it emerges out of the slot CZ in any known or convenient manner. The means for actuating the galley may be varied. For instance the galley could be actuated by means of a spring or load, or the galley may be stationary and the column or page'of type could be pushed forward by a spring device. As soon as the line of type moved into the type channed 02 has been dealt with in manner to be described, another pusher on the chain 03 is timed to come into contact with the next line and so on until the column or page of type on the galley is exhausted.

The type characters now occupying the channel c2 are individually lifted by a separator device and are slid into a selection channel c, one wall c of which is iixed and continuous, the other wall being formed by a series of selector heads f. The end of the channel c2 is provided by a receiver f which is H shape in cross section and is separately shown in Fig. 8. The lower' slot of the receiver f is provided with projections f2 which engage the shoulder rccesses a of the type characters so as to support the type. The foremost type is pushed from the receiver into the separator which is reciprocated to elevate each type character singly to coincide with and ready to be moved into the selection channel e along which it is to he traversed. The separator device is illustrated on a larger scale in Figs. 9 and 10, and 1l to 14, Fig. 14 being a cross section on the line C-D Fig. 12. It consists of a plunger' g having two recessed sides, the recesses being occupied by two fork members g', g', slidable in the recesses. This fork is carried by a cross head g2 connected by links g3, g3, to a rocking lever g* which can oscillate on a pivot g5 and which is actuated by a cam L on a driven counter'- shaft i/ acting on a roller ft2 on the end ot the lever g4. The plunger g carries a bolt c' passing loosely through the cross head g2, around which is a coiled spring i compressed between the cross-head and a scr'ewed nut 2 on the bolt, which nut is normally below the plunger' thus providing a spring connection between the crosshead (/2 and the plunger g and permitting to a cer'- tain extent independent movement of the cross head. The plunger g is formed with a slot 3 at its upper end having projections 2'4, 4 corresponding with the recesses a in the shoulder of the type character a and the plunger is disposed alongside the receiver f. The plunger is provided with a slide j of a thickness corresponding to the thinnest type character used, into which a type character is pushed, such slide being also slotted at y" to receive the type and having projections y'2, (i2 corresponding with the recesses a of the type character'. Normally and as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the slot y" in the slide y' does not quite coincide with the slot in the plunger g, which prevents the separator receiving more than one type character at a time. lVhen the slide j has received the type character the separator' is timed to move upwards through the action of the cam z on the countershaft lr. ln case the type character should be thicker than the slide j the receiver f is arranged, before every upward movement of the plunger g to be retracted against the action of springs 7c secured to trunnions 7c on the receiver f and to studs /cg screwed into the frame ot' the machine. v This withdrawal of the receiver f is effected by the spring connection between the plunger g and the 'fork g', the top of the fork g coming into contact with cams m carried by the upper part ot the plunger' g, turning the cams on their pivots, the cams being disposed against the end of the receiver f which is thus thrust away from the plunger to a small extent releasing the type character and leaving room for the type character' to pass it. To effect this the spring i" is` further compressed due to the movement of the cross head g2 whilst the plunger' g remains stationary. When the receiver has been retracted the temporary further compressed coiled spring e" returns to normal compression, and the plunger g is raised by the crosshead g2 in conjunction with the coiled spring z". At the same time a pivoted finger X63 engaging at one end with the Slide j (see Fig. 9) coming into engagement with an adjijis'table stop .7i/:jf is actuated to raise the slide until the slot j therein coincides with the slot 3 in the plunger' g. The type character in the separator is then slid out ot the separator into the selection channel e' by one of a series of strikers. a carried by an endless chain n driven from the main driving shaft of the machine as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. A portion ofi the chain In carrying a striker n is shown in Figs.` Q and 3 and each type character is acted` upon by a separate striker'. lll/*hen the type character has been slid out of the separator, the separator moves down again and another' adjustable stop 0 acts upon the finger' 7c3 to return the slide y' to its normal position and it receives another type character. Fig. 19 illustrates more clearly the means for actuating the slide. The stops k* and 0 are secured by screwed studs if and o4 respectively, in slots .the fixed wall e. having a ysimilar ,projection Each selector? held suspendedbetweenthetixed wall c offv the selection channele and aiselector head f; Each selector head f .is provided with `a projectionox to fit into one of the recesses a" in .the shouldernf the tytpe character c,

to ffit intoyzt-he `other recess a". head issupportedby-a .rail of and :is slidable in s a.shallow-.channel formed acrossthe Connected to yeachselector head is a trod or bar-o2 passing through a groove lformed in aftixedrail 0.3 .and Supportaci atzthe end in a grooved pulley p loose on ashatt p. .it coiled spring plxon the lrod ,02 .isdisposed nba. tween the rail o,34 and an. vadjustable stop. p3' ,andoneach rod 0,-21 -isfan adjustable stop Fol-each selector head there is provided a delayed .faction relay g and Va `pivoted arma.- tul'efg': with appreciable. inertia and the-selector head alsocarries a slidablespring con,- -trolled block r on the faceof which are projections 1". j ALFor each. .type `character there is a selector headin which the projection or projections 7" 'of the slidable block correspond with .the recess or recesses a2 on the front side of the .type character. The relay g is wired to a battery s or other source of electric current connected to the frame of the machine and to an insulated contact point r2 carried by the slidable block 7'. This contact point is thrust away from the type character by the projections r so long as they do not coincide with the recesses in the type character, but when the type character reaches its individual selector head the projection or projections on the slidable block enter the groove or grooves in the type character without any1 backward movement of the block r, thus the type character -and contact point 'r2 com )lete the electric circuit which energizes t e relay, the pivoted armature being then attracted to the relay. On this movement of the armature it comes into contact with the adjustable stop 04. The rod 02 is thus slid in its bearings compressing the spring p2 and carrying the Selector head therewith whereby the type character is released and falls down the funnel t into the flexible tube t by means of which it is directed into its correct compartment in a type case. The released type may however be led away by any suitable means, such as by a directional raceway `for packing into containers. The spring p2 on the release of the type character returns the selector` head to its normal position ready to Treoeive the next .type character. The required number of selector v, heads, .corresponding jto :the )number of type characters used, may be :arranged inn straight eline, or. to economize space they may `becurved in aisemi-circle or lthe like. Separate views on alarger scale of the selector head are sho-.wn in. :Figs 15 .to 17. Eig. 17 bein f asection .of the slida'ble block on theline TF, Fig. "15. To prevent jambing ofthe type characters ragainst the slidable `blockthe projectionsr thereon are tapered 4still preserving fthe gist of Aour invention.

We Vdeclare that what we claim is:

l. In an apparatus for distributing metal type, a galley .to receive-the page of type to. `be distributed, a sliding base for such galley, means to clamp the type upon such galley base, and means to actuate the galley ba-se to bring :the typea line at a time opposite :to a type channel, .a receiver at the `end of auch. .type channel, -means to carry the type suspended inI such receiver, means to feed the type a line at a time into such type channel; .and :receiver substantially las .described.

2. In apparatus for distributing metal type, a type channel to receive a line of type, an a receiver at the end of such channel formed with projections to carry suspended the type fed therein, and with means to enable such receiver to yield against the action of springs substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for distributing metal type the combination of the type receiver with a separator device consisting of a plunger having two recessed sides, a cross head havin two forked members occupying and slidab e within such recessed sides, a rocking lever, links connecting the cross head to the rocking lever, means to oscillate such rocking lever, a spring device connecting the plunger to the cross head, permitting movement of the cross head independent of the plunger, a through Way slot formed in the plunger and having projections to receive the type, a slide carried by the plunger to receive the type and having projections to correspond with recesses in the type, means to prevent the slide receiving more than one type character at a time, means,

in case the type character should be thicker than the slide, to retract the type receiver to allow the type character to pass it, means to actuate the slide into co-incidence with the slot in the plunger, and means to slide the typecharacter out of the slide and separator device at the required time substantially as' described.

4. In an apparatus for use in distributing metal type, a selection channel for the type consisting of a continuous fixed wall, and a Wall formed `from a series of selector heads, means to suspend the type characters -within such selection channel, means to continuously traverse the type characters along the selection channel and means to release the type character when it comes opposite to its individual selector head and to con- 'iiuct it away substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for use in distributing,l metal type a series of selector heads forming the movable wall of a selection channel, each selector head having a projec- 'ftion to fit into one of the'recesses in the shoulder of a type character, means to support and guide such selector heads, a relay and pivoted armature for each selector head, a slidable spring controlled block for each selector' head with projections to correspond with recesses 0n the face of its individual type character, an insulated contactpoint carried by the slidable block, a source of electric current connected to the frame of the machine and to the relay and the insulated contact point of the slidable block, means whereby on a type character reaching a selector head in which the )rejections of the slidable block co-incide wit the grooves in the face of the type character, an electric circuit is completed and the selector, head is actuated to release' the type charac ter substantially as described.

-6. In combination in apparatus for distributing metal type, type characters formed with a recess near the shoulder on the front and back sides and a recess or recesses in the front side, a type channel and `means to feed such typea line at a time into such channel, a type receiver at the end of such type channel with means to hold the type characters suspended in such receiver, a separator device, a slide carried by such separator device with means to enable the slide to receive thetype characters singly, means carried by the separator de-y p and means to release each type "character when it comes opposite to its appropriate' selector head, and conduct it away, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

THoMAs ATKINSON. HORACE cARDwELL DAY. 

